Thai-British Beauty Queen Duped Out of 4M Baht, Suspect Arrested

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: MGR online

 

Thai authorities have arrested a 40-year-old woman believed to be part of a scam operation that duped Thai-British beauty queen Charlotte Austin out of 4 million Thai Baht. The suspect, known only as Parichat, was apprehended in Chaiyaphum province over the weekend.

 

Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phewphan, acting commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, detailed that Parichat was involved in a scam run by a group based in Cambodia. The suspect and her husband allegedly travelled illegally from Sa Kaeo province into Cambodia, where Parichat was coerced into opening a bank account for a Chinese-led scam operation.

 

Once in Cambodia, Parichat was taken to a building where the scam was being orchestrated. Here, she was paid a nominal fee of 3,500 Thai Baht to open a bank account, using her identity, for the gang. This building housed roughly 20 Thais, and within its walls were mock offices posing as legitimate Thai authorities.

Lt Gen Trairong revealed that the beauty queen’s funds were first transferred into Parichat's account, subsequently converted into digital currency, and then moved to an account linked to a Chinese suspect. The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle the broader network involved.

 

This alarming scheme unraveled after Charlotte Austin, the 5th runner-up in Miss Grand Thailand 2022, was deceived by a call on December 7th. The caller posed as an official from Thailand's Department of Special Investigation, falsely implicating her in a money laundering case associated with Stark Corporation.

 

In a state of fear and confusion, Austin was instructed to transfer 4 million Baht under the pretence that this would absolve her from suspicion. She made a series of transactions totalling the amount but, as anticipated by the perpetrators, never saw her money returned.

 

Austin's ordeal has thrown a spotlight on the increasingly sophisticated methods employed by scammers and the cross-border challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling these crimes. The arrest of Parichat marks a significant step forward, but the ongoing investigation underscores the complexity of dismantling such operations and bringing all responsible parties to justice, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2024-12-16

 

 

[bradiston]

All it does for me is to shine a spotlight on the increasing stupidity of the victims. At what point does an enormous red flag not get raised, causing you to figure something looks just a little sus? Illegal entry into Cambodia? Opening a mule account? Forcing you to transfer millions? Are these every day activities?

[kratiam]

Just now, bradiston said:

All it does for me is to shine a spotlight on the increasing stupidity of the victims. At what point does an enormous red flag not get raised, causing you to figure something looks just a little sus? Illegal entry into Cambodia? Opening a mule account? Forcing you to transfer millions? Are these every day activities?

Perfectly put.  Idiots!

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Lt Gen Trairong revealed that the beauty queen’s funds were first transferred into Parichat's account, subsequently converted into digital currency, and then moved to an account linked to a Chinese suspect.

Damned Chinese... 

[Jack Hammer]

Maybe too much make up affected her brain for being so gullible. It always amazes me these “beauty queens” having millions of Baht. Prize money in these beauty contests is not great. How do they acquire such wealth?